President William Ruto has unveiled a new digital platform aimed at connecting Kenyans living abroad with investment and development opportunities at home.

The Kenya Diaspora Impact Platform was launched in New York on Sunday during a meeting with Kenyans living in the United States, where Ruto also witnessed the signing of a joint Declaration of Intent between the Government, the United Nations and Equity Group Holdings.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, seeks to channel diaspora capital, skills and expertise into national development.

Ruto said the platform would expand the role of Kenyans abroad beyond remittances by linking them to opportunities in enterprise development, MSME financing, community projects and skills transfer.

“The diaspora is an important part of Kenya’s growth story, not only because of the remittances they send home, but also through investment, expertise, innovation and global networks,” Ruto said.

He said the government wants to create a more reliable link between Kenyans abroad and investment opportunities at home.

“We want to make it easier for those in the diaspora to convert assets and enterprises into long-term wealth,” he said.

Ruto cited housing, healthcare and agriculture among sectors offering investment opportunities for Kenyans abroad.

He, however, said trust and transparency would be critical to the platform’s success.

“Trust must be at the centre for this initiative to succeed. Information must be reliable and transparency should be the operating principle,” he said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi signed the Declaration of Intent on behalf of the Government, while Equity Group Holdings CEO James Mwangi represented the private sector.

UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Garry Conille represented the United Nations.

During the meeting, Ruto also defended Kenya’s Government-to-Government fuel import arrangement, saying it had stabilised petroleum supplies and eased pressure on foreign exchange.

He rejected claims that the model had introduced costly middlemen, arguing that it instead eliminated brokers and ensured reliable fuel supply.

“If there is anything we got right immediately we took over the leadership of the country in 2022, it was to eliminate brokers in the importation of fuel,” he said.

Ruto said Kenya now has a consistent supply of petroleum products and reduced pressure on foreign currency compared with the situation when his administration took office.

He also highlighted his administration’s record in social protection, healthcare, housing and the digital economy.

On savings, Ruto said funds held by the National Social Security Fund had risen from Sh320 billion in 2023 to about Sh690 billion, adding that the government expects the figure to reach KSh1 trillion by June 2027.

He also defended the Social Health Authority, saying 33 million Kenyans had registered since its rollout in October 2024.

“Through SHA, we have transformed the delivery of health in Kenya,” Ruto said.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga and SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi also addressed the diaspora gathering, outlining developments in their respective programmes and investment opportunities available to Kenyans abroad.

Ruto is in New York for engagements around the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

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